SCOTLAND

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many regulations his Department has repealed between 1 February and 31 May 2012; and if he will estimate the potential savings to those affected in each case.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office has not repealed any regulations between 1 February and 31 May 2012.

WALES

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many regulations her Department has repealed between 1 February and 31 May 2012; and if she will estimate the potential savings to those affected in each case.

Cheryl Gillan: The Wales Office did not repeal any regulations between 1 February and 31 May 2012.

DEFENCE

AgustaWestland

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he first became aware of AgustaWestland's plan to move production of the Sea King Integrated Operational Support contract and the Lynx In-Service Support Agreement contract from Vector Aerospace to the AgustaWestland plant in Yeovil.

Peter Luff: holding answer 19 June 2012
	Defence Ministers were first notified of AgustaWestland's intent not to renew Vector Aerospace's sub-contracts for support of Lynx and Sea King helicopters in November 2011.

Amphibious Vehicles

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the BvS Viking armoured all-terrain tracked vehicles have been withdrawn from frontline use by the Royal Marines.

Peter Luff: The Viking protected all-terrain vehicle was deployed successfully on Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. Viking was gradually withdrawn from frontline use and replaced by the Warthog vehicle which was designed specifically for use in Afghanistan.
	Subsequent removal of the upgrades fitted for Op Herrick and close inspection of the vehicles identified that, as a result of the demanding deployment in Afghanistan, which required payloads in excess of the original design parameters, the vehicles have experienced accelerated mechanical fatigue compromising the structural integrity and safe operation of the vehicle.
	At present, they cannot be operated in a manner which complies with the Department's legislative safety obligations and have been withdrawn from use by the Royal Marines until such a time as the vehicles have been regenerated.

Armed Forces: Housing

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF engineers are currently temporarily housed at hotels near Marshalls of Cambridge; and what the cost of all such accommodation is.

Peter Luff: As at 15 June 2012, there were two RAF engineers in hotel accommodation temporarily at a cost of £90 per person per night.

Chemring Group

Jessica Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his contribution of 14 May 2012, Official Report, column 275, on Defence Budget and Transformation, what the total cost overrun is incurred to date by the Chemring Group on contracts with his Department.

Peter Luff: There have been no cost overruns incurred by the Chemring Group on current contracts with the Ministry of Defence.

Defence Equipment: Scotland

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) aircraft towing tractors, (b) aircraft lighting trucks, (c) air charging equipment and (d) air compressors of each type are permanently based at each location in Scotland.

Peter Luff: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Equipment type Number Location 
			 Aircraft Towing Tractors Medium Aircraft Tow Tractors 24 RAF Lossiemouth x 15 
			    RAF Leuchars x 7 
			    RNAS Gannet x 2 
			  Large Aircraft Tow Tractors 2 RAF Lossiemouth x 1 
		
	
	
		
			    RAF Leuchars x 1 
			     
			 Aircraft Lighting Trucks HY-LITE MK2 Mobile Floodlights 4 RAF Lossiemouth x 2 
			    RAF Leuchars x 1 
			    RNAS Gannet x 1 
			     
			 Air Charging Equipment Four Cylinder Breathing Air Charging Trolley MK3 5 RAF Lossiemouth x 3 
			    RAF Leuchars x 1 
			    RNAS Gannet x 1 
			     
			 Air Compressors General Purpose Air Compressor 15 RAF Lossiemouth x 7 
			    RAF Leuchars x 7 
			    RNAS Gannet x 1 
			  Lightweight Tactical Air Compressor 4 RAF Lossiemouth x 4 
		
	
	For the purpose of answering this question equipment has been defined as that used in support of aircraft operations. This equipment is managed to meet operational needs and can be moved for operational purposes should the need arise. The UK Defence footprint is organised, resourced and managed on a national basis to meet operational needs.

Defence: Cryptography

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of the delivery of the Extended Assessment Phase for CIPHER.

Peter Luff: The currently approved total cost of completing the Extended Assessment Phase for CIPHER is £44 million.

Defence: Procurement

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 22 February 2012, Official Report, column 77WS, on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, what recent assessment he has made of the proportion of the Royal Navy's budget that will be used to fund the procurement of (a) versatile Type 26 frigates and (b) successor submarines; and how many vessels he expects to be procured in each case. [R]

Peter Luff: Procurement of new equipment projects, including the Type 26 frigate and the successor deterrent, is funded from the equipment procurement plan, which is held and managed centrally. As such, none of Navy Command's budget will be used to fund those projects.
	The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) current planning assumption is for the construction of 13 Type 26 Global Combat Ships (GCS). The Type 26 GCS programme is currently in its assessment phase, with the results of this phase expected by the middle of this decade.
	The Strategic Defence and Security Review included a detailed review of the successor deterrent programme and announced a deferral of the Main Gate approval point to 2016, at which point a decision will be made on whether three or four boats will be built.

Defence: Procurement

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of contracts issued by his Department were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in 2011-12; and what proportion this represented of the monetary value of contracts awarded by his Department in 2011-12.

Peter Luff: During the financial year 2011-12, approximately 41% of new contracts were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises. This represented approximately 13% of the value of all new contracts placed in the year.

Hercules Aircraft

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hercules transport aeroplanes are currently at Marshalls of Cambridge.

Peter Luff: There are currently eight Hercules aircraft at Marshalls of Cambridge.

Military Aircraft

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) C130-Js and (b) C130-Ks remain in the RAF fleet; and how many such aeroplanes are (i) on operation, (ii) in hangars at RAF Brize Norton and (iii) elsewhere.

Peter Luff: The information is provided in the following table and is correct as of 15 June 2012:
	
		
			  Hercules C130J Hercules CI30K 
			 In-service fleet 24 8 
			 Enduring Operations 5 1 
			 In hangars at RAF Brize Norton(1) 2 1 
			 Elsewhere 17 6 
			 (1) The number of aircraft in a hangar at RAF Brize Norton will change on a regular basis and depend on the number of aircraft requiring maintenance, the extent of the maintenance or the preparation required for a specific task.

Shipping

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which merchant ships were chartered by his Department in each year since 2000-01; and what the (a) vessel name, (b) flag, (c) ownership, (d) length of charter and (e) cost was of each.

Peter Luff: I will place the information held by the Ministry of Defence in the Library of the House.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what correspondence (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Scottish Government on the potential consequences of Scotland leaving the UK; and if he will place in the Library a copy of any such correspondence;
	(2)  what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with Scottish Government Ministers or officials on the potential consequences of Scotland leaving the UK.

Philip Hammond: Defence Ministers, officials and I have had no discussions with the Scottish Government on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK. The Government's position on this is clear: Scotland is stronger as part of the UK and the UK is stronger with Scotland in it. The Government are not making plans for independence as we are confident that people in Scotland will continue to support the United Kingdom in any referendum.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Freeview Service: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether under the Intergovernmental Agreement that allows RTE channels to be received in Northern Ireland by homes with Freeview, live sporting events covered by RTE channels will be available to people with Freeview.

Edward Vaizey: The Good Friday Agreement from 1998 and the subsequent Memorandum of Understanding of February 2010 do not make specific provisions for coverage of televised sporting events to be made available in Northern Ireland. It is at the discretion of individual sports associations and the rights holders, as to how they sell their properties by jurisdiction and by broadcast platform.

Leveson Inquiry

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much it cost to provide him with legal advice in relation to his appearance at the Leveson Inquiry.

Jeremy Hunt: holding answer 19 June 2012
	Government witnesses have been provided with support from Treasury Counsel and Solicitors and other officials in the preparation for the part of their evidence relating to Government business. The Government will publish the cost of Treasury Solicitors and Counsel at the end of part 1 of the inquiry.

Music: Grants

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much the Arts Council spent on (a) opera and (b) brass bands in each of the last two years.

Edward Vaizey: Over the last two years, the Arts Council has allocated the following funding, across its various funding strands, to organisations that include (a) opera or (b) brass bands as part of their art form.
	
		
			 (a) Opera 
			 £ 
			 Opera 2010-11 2011-12 Total 
			 Regular Funded Organisations 67,079,350 62,450,875 129,530,225 
			 Grants for the Arts 667,300 1,119,358 1,786,658 
			 Managed Funds 540,161 220,000 760,161 
			 Total investment 68,286,811 63,790,233 132,077,044 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) Brass bands 
			 £ 
			 Brass bands 2010-11 2011-12 Total 
			 Regular Funded Organisations 24,626 22,927 47,553 
			 Grants for the Arts 51,616 246,363 297,979 
			 Managed Funds 6,000 — 6,000 
			 Total investment 82,242 269,290 351,532

Regional Pay

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to introduce regional pay since 20 March 2012; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: The Department has not made any steps to introduce regional pay as it does not have any employees who are based outside of the London region.

Public Libraries

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if he will estimate the number of libraries that charge for the use of e-books;
	(2)  if he will estimate the number of libraries that have e-books available for loan.

Edward Vaizey: Data about the library sector is published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). CIPFA's most recent data shows that at 31 March 2011, 48 library authorities had e-book availability/stock. We would expect subsequent statistics to show an on-going increase in the take-up of e-lending.
	We are unable to provide an accurate estimate of the number of libraries or library authorities that charge for the use of e-books as this information is not routinely collected.

Public Libraries

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if he will estimate the proportion of the population that use libraries;
	(2)  if he will estimate the average age of a library user.

Edward Vaizey: In 2011, 39.2% of adults had used a library in the last 12 months. Our most recent data for children shows that in 2010-11, 75.6% of children had visited a library in the last 12 months.
	During January to December 2011, the average age of adults attending a library at least once in the year was 46.7 years old.
	This data is taken from the Department's most recent Taking Part quarterly release, published on our website:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/research/TP_Y7_Q3_Figures_Libraries.xls
	This link also contains "Taking Part 2011/12 Quarter 2: Statistical Release—Digital participation" that shows headline digital engagement figures, including digital participation in libraries.

Radio Frequencies

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many Freeview viewers he expects to be affected by interference arising from the rollout of 4G services;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the level of interference likely to be experienced by Freeview viewers upon the rollout of 4G services;
	(3)  what estimate his Department has made of the level of funding which will be required to limit interference caused by the 4G rollout;
	(4)  whether his Department has considered providing funding to mitigate the interference arising from the 4G rollout from the proceeds of the airwaves auction.

Edward Vaizey: In Ofcom’s second consultation on co-existence of new services in the 800 MHz band with digital terrestrial television (DTT), their updated analysis estimated that the total number of potentially affected households for which DTT is the primary means of receiving television content, would be 900,000, in the absence of any mitigation measures.
	The same updated analysis indicates that installing filters at customer premises reduces this figure to 15,500 households. If mobile networks also reduced the radiated power from the 150 base station sites, which are predicted to cause the greatest interference impact, the estimated total number of remaining households affected by interference is further reduced to 7,000.
	The Government announced in February that there would be up to £180 million available to address the interference problems administered by a body called Mitco, with the money coming from the winning auction bidders.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Diesel Fuel

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the extent to which diesel produced in the UK meets demand; and how much diesel is likely to be imported from (a) Russia and (b) the far east in the next 12 months.

Charles Hendry: The UK is a net importer of diesel, with net imports in 2011 of 4.7 million tonnes against a demand of 20.0 million tonnes. Of the 7.8 million tonnes of diesel imported in 2011 22% came from Russia and less than 1% from the far east.
	DECC does not forecast imports by country. Imports are a commercial matter for individual companies and the proportion of diesel coming from each country varies over time according to conditions on the global market.

Energy Supply

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to publish an updated impact assessment on Contracts for Difference following the publication of the Draft Energy Bill.

Charles Hendry: DECC intends to publish an impact assessment on Contracts for Difference alongside the final CfD operational framework in the autumn.

Energy: Conservation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress his Department has made on providing updated guidance to local authorities under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995.

Gregory Barker: We are finalising the updated guidance to local authorities on the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) working with local government in the context of DECC's Memorandum of Understanding with the Local Government Association.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 15 March 2012, Official Report, column 361W, on the Green Deal Scheme, how many small electricity suppliers have indicated to his Department that they (a) have and (b) have not chosen to accede to the Green Deal Arrangements Agreement.

Gregory Barker: Smaller electricity suppliers with less than 250,000 customers can choose to take part in the Green Deal charge mechanism by acceding to the Green Deal Arrangements Agreement (GDAA). The drafting of this Agreement is currently being finalised and the GDAA will come into operation in due course. Smaller electricity suppliers will only be in a position to indicate whether they will accede to the GDAA when this Agreement is finalised.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department plans to issue a draft Green Deal code of practice for consultation with stakeholders; and when such a draft will be published.

Gregory Barker: A draft of the Code of Practice, written in co-operation with consumer groups and industry, was included in the Green Deal consultation launched last November. This has now been revised to reflect further comments received and to ensure that it provides the right balance between protecting consumers and providing clarity to participants. I plan to lay a final draft of the Green Deal Code of Practice in Parliament before the end of the month in accordance with the procedure set out in section 39 of the Energy Act 2011.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many signatories to the Green Deal memorandum of understanding already have a category A consumer credit licence.

Gregory Barker: Consumer credit licences are a matter for the Office of Fair Trading.
	We are working with Green Deal providers to ensure that those who wish to enter the market early are able to do so. This would include having the necessary authorisation to offer credit to consumers.

Green Deal Scheme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department made an assessment of how many category A consumer credit licences the Office of Fair Trading has issued in each of the last five years during the development of the Green Deal; and how long it takes on average for such a licence application to be completed.

Gregory Barker: Consumer credit licensing is a matter for the Office of Fair Trading. The Department has been working closely with the Office of Fair Trading during development of the Green Deal policy.

Oil

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people are employed in the petroleum refinery sector in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland.

Charles Hendry: According to the latest ONS figures the total employment in the petroleum refinery sector in the UK is approximately 10,000. A separate figure for Scotland is not published by ONS.

Publications

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure the recent report, co-sponsored by his Department and Renewables UK, and the corresponding press release are made available on the website of his Department.

Charles Hendry: Copies of the recent report by BiGGAR Economics on ‘Onshore Wind—Direct and Wider Economic Impacts’ and the corresponding joint DECC /RenewableUK press release issued on 7 May 2012 are currently available on the DECC website(1).
	(1) A copy of the report is at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/meeting-energy-demand/wind/5229-onshore-wind-direct--wider-economic-impacts.pdf
	A copy of the joint DECC/RenewableUK press notice issued on 7 May at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/off_wind_pn/off_wind_pn.aspx

Wind Power

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration his Department has given to introducing a decommissioning bond to wind farm applications.

Charles Hendry: Onshore, wind farm developers make decommissioning arrangements with the relevant local planning authorities and other parties who have a particular interest, for example, the landowner.
	Offshore, the statutory decommissioning scheme for wind farms provides security that their removal can be undertaken by developers.
	Both of these regimes provide for the use of bonds if appropriate in the circumstances.

Wind Power

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that wind farms will be decommissioned at the end of their useful life and that the developer will be responsible for the cost of this and the restoration of the site to its original condition.

Charles Hendry: For onshore wind farms, the Secretary of State, or relevant local planning authorities are able to include requirements for decommissioning and restoration of land to an acceptable state condition as part of the planning approval process.
	Offshore, there is a statutory decommissioning scheme which allows the Secretary of State to compel wind farm developers to submit costed programmes for the removal of their projects with funds set aside for that purpose.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the measures taken to date on the recruitment of women in the Afghan National Security Forces.

Alistair Burt: Recruitment of women to the Afghan National Security Forces remains difficult for cultural and historical reasons, with a mixed picture across the forces. Women currently represent just under 2% of the Afghan National Army and around 1% in the Afghan National Police. The Afghan Government and the international community are working to create opportunities for women within the police force and to recruit 5,000 women over the next five years.

Afghanistan

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Afghan counterpart on the future recruitment of women in the Afghan National Security Forces.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not had recent discussions with Afghan counterparts on this specific issue but was able to discuss security challenges and the developing capability of the Afghan National Security Forces when he met the Deputy Commander of ISAF in Kabul last week. Our embassy in Kabul and the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Lashkar Gah work closely with the Afghan Government and international partners to encourage opportunities for women within the Afghan National Security Forces.

Afghanistan

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effectiveness of training which (a) has taken place and (b) is planned within the Afghan National Security Forces on the 2009 Law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Alistair Burt: There has been real progress in the provision of effective training since the NATO Training Mission—Afghanistan was established in 2009. The Afghan National Police receive training on gender integration, domestic violence and the prevention of violence against women. Standards of behaviour are set out in their code of conduct, including respect for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We regularly press the Afghan Government to implement their human rights commitments, including the elimination of violence against women law and the UN convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.

Afghanistan

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in developing monitoring and accountability mechanisms with the Afghan National Security Forces.

Alistair Burt: At the NATO summit in May, the Afghan Government and troop contributing nations noted the former's commitment to a democratic society, based on the rule of law and good governance, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of its citizens, including equality of men and women and their active participation in Afghan society. They emphasised the importance of Afghan women participating as fully as possible in a future secure and stable Afghanistan and the need to respect institutional arrangements protecting their rights. The summit communiqué reaffirmed NATO's commitment to full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace and security.
	We support Afghan Government efforts to develop policies and monitoring within the Afghan National Security Forces to ensure that women are encouraged and empowered to play a full role in the delivery of security across Afghanistan.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether special advisers in his Department are permitted to use non-departmental e-mail addresses for departmental business.

David Lidington: The special advisers adhere to the Ministerial Code, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, and the Civil Service Code which set out how Ministers, officials and special advisers should conduct Government business.
	FCO guidance stales that: Unofficial and private e-mail accounts should not routinely be used for official purposes. Such accounts may be used when there is no viable alternative, but only for unclassified material.
	This guidance applies to everyone, including special advisers.

Nepal: Tibet

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the ability of British passport holders to cross the border between Nepal and Tibet.

Jeremy Browne: The British embassy in Kathmandu recently received a report that a group of British nationals were not allowed to cross the border from Nepal into Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu confirmed that those without travel permits issued from Lhasa are not allowed to cross the border.
	Foreigners wishing to travel to the TAR require the permission of the Chinese authorities. However the Chinese authorities periodically suspend issuing permits for travel to, and within, the TAR for foreign nationals, and may also restrict travel to the region by those who have already obtained a permit. This is clearly stated in our travel advice for China:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/china
	Travel agencies in China reported on 6 June that permits are not currently being granted to foreign tourists. The Chinese Government have not confirmed this.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what rate of Employment and Support Allowance is paid to applicants who have not been given an appointment for an Atos Assessment after 13 weeks; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: While awaiting a Work Capability Assessment a claimant is paid basic allowance of employment and support allowance (ESA). The rate is dependent on specific circumstances but currently it is £71.00 for a single person aged 25 or over—the same rate as jobseeker’s allowance.
	This rate applies to the first 13 weeks of the claim after which an extra component is paid if the claimant is found to have a limited capability for work and is awarded ESA. The amount of the component depends on whether the claimant is placed in either the Work Related Activity Group or the Support Group.
	If a claimant is assessed after 13 weeks and is found to be eligible for ESA, then the appropriate component rate is backdated to the same 13 week point in the claim.

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each parliamentary constituency (a) no longer receive any employment and support allowance (ESA) and (b) receive income-related ESA as a result of the introduction of a one-year time limit for eligibility of contributory ESA.

Chris Grayling: In answer to part (a), off-flows for employment support allowance, by parliamentary constituency, are available from 100% data and are published on the Department's website at:
	http://83.244.183.180/flows/flows_off/esa/ccparlc/payment_type/a_carate_r_ccparlc_c_payment_type_nov11.html
	Guidance for users is available at:
	http://83.244.183.180/flows/flows_off/Guidance%20for%20Users.pdf
	The information requested at part (b) is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	To provide an estimate of those who have received contributory employment and support allowance (ESA) for 365 days, who then go on to receive income-related ESA would require a new piece of analysis. We estimate that to assess the completeness of recording and quality assure the results would take in excess of five working days and would therefore incur disproportionate cost.

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each parliamentary constituency he expects to cease receiving contributory employment and support allowance as a result of the introduction of a one-year time limit in the next 12 months; and what impact assessment his Department has undertaken in relation to this policy.

Chris Grayling: Information on the parliamentary constituency of those affected by the time-limiting of contributory employment and support allowance for those in the Work Related Activity Group could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
	The impact assessment is available at
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/esa-time-limit-wr2011-ia-revised-apr2011.pdf

Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the UK have been receiving the assessment phase rate of employment and support allowance for more than (a) 12 months and (b) six months.

Chris Grayling: Statistics on Employment Support Allowance, for Great Britain, by the Phase of claim and duration, are available from 100% data and are published on the Department's website at:
	http://83.244.183.180/100pc/esa/esa_phase/ctdurtn/a_carate_r_esa_phase_c_ctdurtn_nov11.html
	Guidance for users is available at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/guidance.pdf
	Statistics for Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Department for Social Development and are published on their website at:
	http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research.htm

Jobcentre Plus: : Hearing Impairment

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to ensure that deaf and hearing impaired people can communicate with Jobcentre Plus through mechanisms other than the telephone, including making urgent contact to rearrange appointments.

Maria Miller: The Department, through Jobcentre Plus, recognises its responsibilities to make reasonable adjustments for those of its clients for whom the standard telephony channel is not suitable. It is also recognised that people sometimes need to contact Jobcentre Plus urgently, for example to rearrange appointments.
	To help ensure deaf and hearing impaired people have full access to its services the Department has taken a number of steps.
	Hearing loops are available in offices and textphones are offered as an alternative to telephones; textphone numbers are advertised on relevant websites and included in communication materials. DWP introduced Texbox in late 2009 to improve access to textphone services; this desktop application enables staff to answer textphone calls more effectively using their PCs.
	The Department uses a framework of suppliers to provide a range of communication methods, including British Sign Language; lip speakers; sign language communicators and note takers. Jobcentres can arrange for these communicators to be available in offices to support deaf and hearing impaired clients at interviews.
	DWP can also communicate with people via email if this is needed as a reasonable adjustment relating to a disability.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will arrange for the hon. Member for Walsall North to receive a reply to his letter of 14 May 2012 to the Child Support Agency, ref CSA/0285524.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will arrange for the hon. Member for Walsall North to receive a reply to his letter of 14 May 2012 to the Child Support Agency, ref CSA/0285524.
	The Senior Resolution Manager of our North West office wrote to you on 18 June 2012 in reply to your correspondence of 14 May 2012. I trust this letter clarifies the situation.

Pensioners: Income

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average annual income of pensioner households in (a) York, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber, (c) England and (d) the UK was (i) in cash terms and (ii) at current prices in each year since 1992.

Steve Webb: Estimates of pensioner incomes are published in the Pensioners' Incomes Series. The latest information is available on the Department's website at
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page-pensioners_income
	These statistics provide a breakdown of the income levels of pensioners at a regional level.
	Three-year averages are used to report regional statistics as single-year estimates are subject to volatility.
	(a) It is not possible to provide the information at this geographical level.
	Table 1 shows the gross annual mean income in (i) cash terms, for pensioner couples and single pensioners in (b) Yorkshire and the Humber, (c) England and (d) the UK, for three year periods spanning 1994-95 to 2009-10, which is the latest year for which figures are available.
	Table 2 shows the gross annual mean income in (ii) 2009-10 prices, for pensioner couples and single pensioners in (b) Yorkshire and the Humber, (c) England and (d)the UK, for three year periods spanning 1994-95 to 2009-10, which is the latest year for which figures are available.
	These statistics are based on Pensioners' Income Series (PI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) which started in 1994-95, so it has not been possibly to provide figures prior to 1994-95.
	Data for the UK are not available in the PI series prior to 2002-03.
	In each case, incomes have been rounded to the nearest £100.
	
		
			 Table 1: Gross annual mean incomes in (i) cash terms 
			 Incomes in £ per year, in cash terms 
			  Pensioner couples Single pensioners 
			  (b) Yorkshire and the Humber (c) England (d)UK (b) Yorkshire and the Humber (c) England (d)UK 
			 1994-95 to 1996-97 12,600 15,200 — 6,700 7,200 — 
			 1995-96 to 1997-98 14,100 16,000 — 7,000 7,500 — 
			 1996-97 to 1998-99 15,600 17,200 — 7,300 8,000 — 
			 1997-98 to 1999-2000 16,900 18,100 — 8,000 8,500 — 
			 1998-99 to 2000-01 17,100 19,200 — 8,800 9,100 — 
			 1999-2000 to 2001-02 18,100 20,200 — 9,300 9,600 — 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 18,700 21,100 — 9,700 10,100 — 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 20,800 22,300 — 10,000 10,500 — 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 21,000 23,400 23,000 10,600 11,100 11,000 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 22,300 24,800 24,400 11,000 11,800 11,600 
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 21,900 25,900 25,500 11,500 12,500 12,300 
			 2005-06 to 2007-08 23,300 27,200 26,800 12,100 13,100 12,900 
			 2006-07 to 2008-09 24;200 28,600 28,100 12,700 13,700 13,600 
			 2007-08 to 2009-10 25,500 30,100 29,900 12,900 14,300 14,200 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Gross annual mean incomes in (ii) 2009-10 prices 
			 Incomes in £ per year, in 2009-10 prices 
			  Pensioner couples Single pensioners 
			  (b) Yorkshire and the Humber (c) England (d) UK (b) Yorkshire and the Humber England (d) UK 
			 1994-95 to 1996-97 17,800 21,500 — 9,600 10,200 — 
			 1995-96 to 1997-98 19,400 22,100 — 9,700 10,400 — 
			 1996-97 to 1998-99 20,900 23,100 — 9,800 10,700 — 
			 1997-98 to 1999-2000 22,100 23,600 — 10,400 11,100 — 
			 1998-99 to 2000-01 21,800 24,400 — 11,300 11,700 — 
			 1999-2000 to 2001-02 22,600 25,300 — 11,600 12,000 — 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 22,900 25,900 — 11,900 12,300 — 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 25,100 26,800 — 12,100 12,600 — 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 24,700 27,500 27,000 12,500 13,000 12,900 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 25,600 28,500 27,900 12,600 13,500 13,300 
		
	
	
		
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 24,300 28,700 28,300 12,800 13,900 13,700 
			 2005-06 to 2007-08 25,000 29,200 28,800 13,000 14,000 13,800 
			 2006-07 to 2008-09 25,000 29,600 29,200 13,200 14,200 14,100 
			 2007-08 to 2009-10 25,800 30,400 30,200 13,000 14,500 14,400 
			 Notes: 1. Mean incomes have been presented in line with the Pensioners' Incomes series publication. 2. Gross incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. 3. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 4. Incomes have not been equivalised (ie they have not been adjusted for household size or composition). 5. Annual incomes have been rounded to the nearest £100. 6. It was announced in May that the 2009-10 results will be revised when the 2010-11 results are published on 12 July 2012. See the DWP PI website for further information. Source: Pensioners' Incomes Series 2009-10

Pensioners: Income

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average annual value of state pensions, cash benefits and benefits in kind received from the state by pensioner households in (a) York, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber, (c) England and (d) the UK was (i) in cash terms and (ii) at current prices in each year since 1992.

Steve Webb: Estimates of pensioner incomes are published in the Pensioners' Incomes Series. The latest information is available on the Department's website at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php? page=pensioners_income
	These statistics provide a breakdown of the income levels of pensioners at a regional level.
	Three-year averages are used to report regional statistics as single-year estimates are subject to volatility.
	(a) It is not possible to provide the information at this geographical level.
	Table 1 shows the annual mean benefit income in (i) cash terms, for pensioner couples and single pensioners in (b) Yorkshire and the Humber, (c) England and (d)the UK, for three year periods spanning 1994-95 to 2009-10, which is the latest year for which figures are available.
	Table 2 shows the annual mean benefit income in (ii) 2009-10 prices, for pensioner couples and single pensioners in (b) Yorkshire and the Humber, (c) England and (d)the UK, for three year periods spanning 1994-95 to 2009-10, which is the latest year for which figures are available.
	In each case, incomes have been rounded to the nearest £100.
	Benefit income includes the state pension as well as all social security benefits (including social fund, maternity, funeral and community care grants but excluding social fund loans) and tax credits.
	These statistics are based on Pensioners' Income Series (PI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) which started in 1994-95, so it has not been possible to provide figures prior to 1994-95.
	Data for the UK are not available in the PI series prior to 2002-03.
	Data are not available to show the cash equivalent of benefits received in kind.
	
		
			 Table 1: Annual mean benefit income in (i) cash terms 
			 Incomes in £ per year, in cash terms 
			  Pensioner couples Single pensioners 
			  (b) Yorkshire and The Humber (c) England (d) UK (b) Yorkshire and The Humber (c) England (d) UK 
			 1994-95 to 1996-97 5,800 5,800 — 4,600 4,500 — 
			 1995-96 to 1997-98 6,000 6,000 — 4,700 4,700 — 
			 1996-97 to 1998-99 6,300 6,300 — 5,100 5,000 — 
			 1997-98 to 1999-2000 6,700 6,500 — 5,400 5,200 — 
			 1998-99 to 2000-01 7,000 6,800 — 5,600 5,500 — 
			 1999-2000 to 2001-02 7,400 7,200 — 5,800 5,800 — 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 7,700 7,500 — 6,100 6,100 — 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 8,100 7,900 — 6,400 6,400 — 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 8,400 8,200 8,300 6,800 6,700 6,800 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 8,800 8,600 8,700 7,200 7,100 7,100 
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 9,100 9,000 9,000 7,500 7,400 7,400 
			 2005-06 to 2007-08 9,300 9,200 9,300 7,700 7,700 7,700 
			 2006-07 to 2008-09 9,500 9,500 9,500 8,100 8,000 8,000 
			 2007-08 to 2009-10 9,900 10,000 10,000 8,600 8,400 8,400 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Annual mean benefit income in (ii) 2009-10 prices 
			 Incomes in £ per year, in 2009-10 prices 
			  Pensioner couples Single pensioners 
			  (b) Yorkshire and The Humber (c) England (d) UK (b) Yorkshire and The Humber (c) England (d) UK 
			 1994-95 to 1996-97 8,300 8,200 — 6,500 6,400 — 
			 1995-96 to 1997-98 8,300 8,300 — 6,500 6,500 — 
			 1996-97 to 1998-99 8,500 8,400 — 6,800 6,600 — 
			 1997-98 to 1999-2000 8,700 8,500 — 7,000 6,800 — 
			 1998-99 to 2000-01 9,000 8,700 — 7,200 7,000 — 
			 1999-2000 to 2001-02 9,300 9,000 — 7,300 7,300 — 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 9,500 9,300 — 7,500 7,500 — 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 9,700 9,500 — 7,700 7,700 — 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 9,900 9,700 9,800 8,000 7,900 7,900 
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 10,100 9,900 10,000 8,200 8,100 8,100 
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 10,100 10,000 10,000 8,300 8,200 8,200 
			 2005-06 to 2007-08 9,900 9,900 10,000 8,200 8,200 8,200 
			 2006-07 to 2008-09 9,900 9,800 9,900 8,400 8,300 8,300 
			 2007-08 to 2009-10 10,000 10,100 10,200 8,700 8,500 8,500 
			 Notes: 1. Mean incomes have been presented in line with the Pensioners' Incomes series publication. 2. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. Incomes have not been equivalised (i.e. they have not been adjusted for household size or composition). 4. Annual incomes have been rounded to the nearest £100. 5. It was announced in May that the 2009-10 results will be revised when the 2010-11 results are published on 12 July 2012. See the DWP PI website for further information. Source: Pensioners' Incomes Series 2009/10.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many regulations his Department has repealed between 1 February and 31 May 2012; and if he will estimate the potential savings to those affected in each case.

Chris Grayling: The following sets of regulations were revoked between 1 February and 31 May 2012 by my Department, and no cost savings were identified:
	The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2739)
	The Jobseeker's Allowance (Work for Your Benefit Pilot Scheme) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1222)
	The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/830).
	S.I. 2006/2739 was revoked and replaced by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/632) to introduce amendments needed to fulfil the requirements of a European Commission reasoned opinion. S.I. 2010/1222 provided for a Work for Your Benefit pilot scheme to be set up; in November 2010 I announced that the scheme would not go ahead. S.I. 2011/830 is an annual set of up-rating regulations which are revoked when the up-rating regulations for the following year come into force.
	The following sets of regulations were revoked on 6 April 2012 by my Department, for which cost savings were identified:
	The Personal Pension Schemes (Compensation) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1988/2238)
	The Occupational Pension Schemes (Discharge of Protected Rights on Winding-up) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/775)
	The Protected Rights (Transfer Payment) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1461)
	The Occupational Pension Schemes (Mixed Benefit Contracted-out Schemes) 1996 (S.I. 1996/1977)
	The Personal and Occupational Pension Schemes (Protected Rights) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1537)
	The Personal Pension Schemes (Appropriate Schemes) Regulations 1997 (S.I.1997/470)
	The Occupational Pension Schemes (Age-related Payments) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/946).
	These regulations were revoked as part of the implementation of the abolition of contracting-out for defined contributions pension schemes. Annual administrative cost savings for employers and pension schemes are estimated to be £5.3 million. There are also estimated annual cost savings to the Government of administering the contracting-out system for these schemes of £2 million. The relevant Impact Assessment which sets out the detail of the cost savings for the abolition of contracting-out on a defined contributions basis can be found alongside the Explanatory Memorandum for S.I. 2012/1245 at:
	www.legislation.gov.uk
	The Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Revocations) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/1537), made on 13 June, laid before Parliament on 18 June and due to come into force on 1 October 2012, will revoke the following sets of regulations, and no cost savings were identified:
	Regulations, dated August 24(th), 1906, made by the Secretary of State for Use of Locomotives and Wagons on Lines and Sidings in or used in connexion with Premises under the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901 (S.R. & O 1906/679)
	The Pottery (Health and Welfare) Special Regulations 1950 (S.I. 1950/65)
	The Non-ferrous Metals (Melting and Founding) Regulations 1962 (S.I. 1962/1667)
	The Employment Medical Advisory Service (Factories Act Orders etc. Amendment) Order 1973 (S.I. 1973/36)
	The Health and Safety (Foundries etc.) (Metrication) Regulations 1981 (S.I. 1981/1332)
	The Pottery (Health etc.) (Metrication) Regulations 1982 (S.I. 1982/877); and
	The Anthrax Prevention Order 1971 etc. (Revocation) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/228).
	Most of these instruments are old and the provisions of some have been revoked in large part by other instruments or contain amendments to instruments which have been subsequently revoked or have been superseded by more modern legislation. The Impact Assessment can be found alongside the Explanatory Memorandum for S.I. 2012/1537.

Social Security Benefits

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Greater Manchester, (b) the north-west and (c) England will be eligible for fewer benefits upon the introduction of the benefit cap in April 2013.

Chris Grayling: The estimate for Greater Manchester is that 1,800 households will have their benefit reduced to the cap level, from April 2013.
	The corresponding estimate for the north-west of England is 4,000 households, and the corresponding estimate for England as a whole is 61,600 households.
	The figures presented above are consistent with the impact assessment published on 23 January 2012, where the total number of affected households in Great Britain was estimated as 67,000. Following the concessions made in the House of Commons on 1 February, we estimate that the introduction of an exemption for those in receipt of the support component of employment support allowance and a grace period of 39 weeks for claimants who have been in employment for 52 weeks or more before leaving work will reduce the overall number of households affected in Great Britain to around 57,000.
	This assumes that the situation of these households will go unchanged, and they will not take any steps to either work enough hours to qualify for working tax credit, renegotiate their rent in situ, or find alternative accommodation. In all cases the Department is working to support households through this transition, using existing provision through Jobcentre Plus and the Work programme to move as many into work as possible.

Work Capability Assessment

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the Government's response to his Department's consultation paper, Work Capability Assessment: accounting for the effects of cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: We are determined the benefits system should support people who are diagnosed with cancer in the most sensitive, fair and appropriate way.
	People who are receiving or recovering from many forms of chemotherapy are currently automatically eligible for employment and support allowance. Since spring 2011, this provision has been extended to include those who are awaiting or in between courses of such treatment.
	Following our informal consultation on accounting for the effects of cancer treatment in the Work Capability Assessment which closed in spring 2012, we continue to analyse the responses and will publish a consultation response, outlining our proposals, in the summer.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Credit Reference Agencies: Telephone Services

Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had on bringing forward legislative proposals to ensure that credit ratings agencies are obliged to provide freephone 0800 access to their organisation for the purposes of reporting and dealing with errors.

Norman Lamb: This Department has had no such discussions. Reporting and dealing with errors can be dealt with in writing either online, by e-mail or by correspondence to the Credit Reference Agencies (CRAs):
	Experian Customer Support Centre, PO Box 8000, Nottingham NG80 7WF
	Equifax Ltd, Credit File Advice Centre, PO Box 1140, Bradford, BD1 5US
	Callcredit plc, PO Box 491 Leeds LS3 1WZ.
	If a consumer has written to the CRA concerned because the information on their credit reference file was wrong and the CRA has either not replied within 28 days or they have replied but the information is still wrong, consumers can write to the Information Commissioner's Office at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Electronic Cigarettes: Trading Standards

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2012, Official Report, column 511W, on electronic cigarettes, if he will consider issuing guidance to local trading standards officers on the sale of electronic cigarettes and the evidence of illegal sales from other markets such as China.

Norman Lamb: BIS has recently established a Product Safety Focus Group with regional representatives of Trading Standards product safety groups. This group of safety experts share information on current trends in the market and on product safety concerns. We are aware that e-cigarettes are a concern to some local authorities and that Trading Standards have also been working with the industry association to develop an industry code of practice. Should Trading Standards need additional guidance on a particular product such as e-cigarettes then we have established a mechanism to facilitate this.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which regulations his Department repealed between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012; and what the anticipated total saving to those affected will be of repealing such regulations.

Mark Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has repealed two measures between 1 February 2012 and 31 May 2012:
	(1) Export Control (Syria Sanctions) and (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012—repeals The Export Control (Uzbekistan) (Amendment) Order 2009. The 2012 Order entered into force on 1 April 2012. It is a country-specific export control order implementing trade sanctions and arms embargoes imposed by legally-binding United Nations Security Council Resolutions and Decisions of the Council of the EU. It sets out the penalties for breaches of those sanctions.
	(2) The Restriction on Agreements and Conduct (Specified Domestic Electrical Goods) Order 1998 (Revocation) Order 2012—repeals the Restriction on Agreements and Conduct (Specified Domestic Electrical Goods) Order 1998. The 2012 Order entered into force on 1 February 2012 by the Competition Commission. It prohibits suppliers of certain domestic electrical goods agreeing with retailers on recommended retail pricing, essentially price fixing, as well as certain other forms of anti-competitive behaviour.
	There are no associated savings from repealing these regulations.

HEALTH

Brain Cancer

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that more cancer research focuses on brain tumours.

Paul Burstow: The Department is fully committed to clinical and applied research into treatment and cures for cancer.
	The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including brain tumours. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity.
	In August 2011, the Government announced £800 million investment over five years in a series of NIHR biomedical research centres and units. This includes £61.5 million funding for the Royal Marsden/Institute of Cancer Research Biomedical Research Centre, which undertakes research on cancer sites including the brain.
	The NIHR funds 15 Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres across England in close partnership with Cancer Research UK. Brain cancer is included within the disease focus of three of these centres.
	In 2010-11, the equivalent of 19.8% of new incident cancer cases were recruited into studies hosted by the NIHR Cancer Research Network (NCRN), representing a fivefold increase in recruitment in the decade since the network was established. In the same year, 194 patients were recruited to randomised controlled trials in brain cancer hosted by the NCRN.

Cancer

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases there were of emergency readmission to hospitals through accident and emergency departments of cancer patients within 30 days of discharge from hospital in each of the last three years.

Paul Burstow: This information is not available.

Defibrillators: Schools

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the (a) effect of having defibrillators in public places and (b) health benefits which would result from having defibrillators in schools.

Simon Burns: The Department has made no such assessment. The National Defibrillator Programme, which is the responsibility of ambulance trusts and is co-ordinated by the British Heart Foundation, installs automatic external defibrillators where they are most needed.
	However, ambulance trusts now report on clinical outcomes of patients who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The number of patients who have a return of spontaneous circulation at the point of arrival at hospital and the number of patients who survive to discharge are recorded and published on the Department's website and on ambulance trust websites. The statistics can be accessed from:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/AmbulanceQualityIndicators/index.htm

Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust: Pharmacy

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take in the event that the consultation on the proposal to privatise pharmacy services in the Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation Trust is opposed by the public.

Paul Burstow: This is a matter for the trust, its board of directors and governors to determine. However, we are advised that the trust is only proposing to outsource its out-patient dispensing and distribution of drugs to patients at home and that it has no plans to change the in-patient or pharmacy manufacturing services. As this represents a change of provider and not a change to services, there is no requirement for public consultation. We understand that the small number of staff potentially affected by the change will be consulted.

Health Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the review of the role of clinical networks; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Simon Burns: To date, over 800 stakeholders have contributed to work being taken forward by the NHS Commissioning Board Authority (NHS CBA) on the development of clinical networks. These include patients, clinicians, commissioner providers, Royal Colleges and academics. The NHS CBA will publish its recommendations for clinical networks in the new health system in July. A copy of the recommendations will be placed in the Library.

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients registered at an address in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland received treatment at a hospital in England in each month since May 2010.

Simon Burns: The following tables show the number of finished admission episodes (inpatients), out-patient attendances (out-patient) and accident and emergency (A&E) attendances for patients identified as resident in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland strategic health authorities.
	
		
			 In-patient finished admission episodes (FAEs) 
			 Month Scotland Wales Northern Ireland Total FAEs 
			 2010     
			 May 608 4,808 153 1,214,441 
			 June 662 5,027 208 1,267,020 
			 July 802 4,974 192 1,271,826 
			 August 712 4,781 191 1,207,305 
			 September 697 4,800 174 1,265,420 
			 October 722 4,651 175 1,260,699 
			 November 644 4,877 182 1,288,492 
			 December 528 4,160 127 1,185,182 
			      
			 2011     
			 January 615 4,228 158 1,223,968 
			 February 522 4,329 141 1,173,697 
			 March 625 5,033 159 1,334,848 
			 April 597 4,333 156 1,143,829 
			 May 631 4,803 184 1,236,016 
			 June 673 4,875 189 1,270,039 
			 July 849 4,630 223 1,243,368 
			 August 720 4,828 199 1,239,111 
			 September 641 4,895 178 1,256,844 
			 October 697 4,728 184 1,255,873 
			 November 521 4,880 153 1,290,444 
			 December 580 4,667 157 1,206,888 
			      
			 2012     
			 January 519 4,764 184 1,281,100 
			 February 524 4,709 167 1,244,131 
		
	
	
		
			 Out-patient attendances 
			 Month Scotland Wales Northern Ireland Total attendances 
			 2010     
			 May 1,332 20,253 281 5,589,873 
			 June 1,603 22,325 399 6,187,189 
			 July 1,541 21,915 345 6,024,397 
			 August 1,365 20,541 334 5,586,435 
			 September 1,506 22,525 314 6,132,641 
			 October 1,515 21,031 294. 5,815,430 
			 November 1,532 22,704 338 6,266,164 
			 December 1,072 17,456 259 4,978,292 
			      
			 2011     
			 January 1,424 21,013 379 5,870,157 
			 February 1,360 20,690 314 5,675,057 
			 March 1,622 24,419 371 6,514,378 
			 April 1,382 19,143 314 5,245,498 
			 May 1,486 21,930 306 6,021,551 
			 June 1,458 23,416 356 6,327,896 
			 July 1,434 21,899 345 5,853,529 
			 August 1,465 22,791 340 5,990,906 
			 September 1,420 23,235 361 6,228,323 
			 October 1,314 22,423 327 6,046,456 
			 November 1,393 24,122 361 6,499,683 
		
	
	
		
			 December 1,128 20,123 258 5,387,921 
			      
			 2012     
			 January 1,452 23,836 265 6,384,001 
			 February 1,349 22,879 304 6,085,981 
		
	
	
		
			 Accident and emergency attendances 
			 Month Scotland Wales Northern Ireland Total attendances 
			 2010     
			 May 1,443 4,041 255 1,443,785 
			 June 1,562 4,078 278 1,397,321 
			 July 2,686 4,342 436 1,442,289 
			 August 1,874 4,468 333 1,345,139 
			 September 1,511 3,813 275 1,346,328 
			 October 1,553 3,764 264 1,356,486 
			 November 968 3,358 203 1,285,427 
			 December 1,113 3,518 215 1,322,514 
			      
			 2011     
			 January 1,020 3,118 200 1,311,577 
			 February 948 3,098 209 1,212,860 
			 March 1,193 3,513 186 1,420,207 
			 April 1,773 4,103 275 1,452,786 
			 May 1,489 4,124 256 1,495,912 
			 June 1,596 4,092 299 1,427,753 
			 July 2,935 4,289 476 1,493,887 
			 August 1,963 4,746 378 1,413,804 
			 September 1,673 3,914 301 1,440,447 
			 October 1,643 4,113 265 1,494,034 
			 November 1,106 3,546 213 1,401,244 
			 December 1,317 3,798 243 1,389,247 
			      
			 2012     
			 January 1,091 3,352 189 1,410,554 
			 February 1,061 3,532 227 1,380,494 
		
	
	These data are drawn from Hospital Episode Statistics. It should be noted that for each of these measures, the number does not necessarily equate to the number of patients as it is possible for an individual to have more than one admission or attendance within the period.
	The data from April 2011 are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected.

Mobile Phones: Health Hazards

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the potential public health risk associated with radiation from mobile telephones.

Anne Milton: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) provides advice to Government on health effects from electromagnetic fields (EMF). The HPA's independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) recently undertook a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence relevant to health effects from exposure to radiofrequency EMF, including exposure from mobile phones. AGNIR's report was published by the HPA on 26 April 2012 and is available at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317133826368
	In between the publication of formal review reports, the HPA monitors emerging scientific studies covering EMF and keeps its advice under review.
	The Department set up the independently managed Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme in 2001 which has funded in the order of 28 projects concerning radiofrequency EMF and health to date, including an ongoing study on the long-term use of mobile phones. Further details of the research programme are available on the MTHR website at:
	www.mthr.org.uk/

NHS: Privatisation

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirements there are for public and patient consultation before a patient service can be privatised within an NHS hospital.

Paul Burstow: Charges for any NHS service cannot be levied without the express permission of Parliament.
	National health service organisations are obliged, under section 242 of the NHS Act 2006, to involve patients and the public in the planning of service provision, the development and consideration of proposals for changes in the way those services are provided, and decisions affecting the operation of those services where such proposals impact on the manner in which services are provided or the range of services available to patients.
	Where only the provider of NHS services is changing and there is no impact on services available to the public, there are no requirements for public and patient consultation.
	Many NHS services are not provided by the public sector.

Patients: Transport

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the recommended maximum journey time is for acute patients travelling to receive (a) percutaneous coronary intervention and (b) thrombolysis.

Simon Burns: The Department has not set out any recommended maximum journey times for acute patients travelling to receive percutaneous coronary intervention and thrombolysis.
	Both thrombolysis and percutaneous coronary intervention (also known as primary angioplasty) are effective treatments for heart attack if given within the first two to three hours of onset of symptoms.

JUSTICE

Community Orders

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will estimate the cost in a full financial year of introducing GPS tracking technology for the surveillance of offenders in England and Wales.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has invited tenders for the next round of electronic monitoring contracts, which we expect to award early in 2013. It would not be appropriate to give an estimate of the cost of introducing GPS tracking technology while the competition is in progress.

Members: Correspondence

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to reply to the letter of 14 April 2012 from the hon. Member for Blackley and Boughton's constituent, Elizabeth Dunbar.

Kenneth Clarke: This letter was received in the Ministry of Justice on 16 May. My officials replied to the letter on 20 June.

Prisoners: Females

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many women with home addresses in Swindon who were held in women's prisons between April 2011 and April 2012 committed acts of self-harm during their imprisonment.

Crispin Blunt: The central system for recording incidents of self-harm does not contain home addresses of offenders and therefore the numbers of those self-harming from Swindon are unknown.

Prisons: Shops

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the average annual change was in prices for items listed for sale in prison shops via the canteen list in each year from 2007 to 2012;
	(2)  what the average price differential is for items sold in prison shops between the canteen list price and high street price.

Crispin Blunt: The average annual changes in prices for items listed for sales in prison shops for lines excluding tobacco are:
	May 2009 to May 2010—4.2%
	May2010 to May211—2.9%
	May 2011 to May 2012—2.8%
	The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Retail Contract commenced on 1 April 2009. Previous Information for 2007 to 31 March 2009 is not held centrally by MOJ and is therefore not provided.
	Tobacco, which is excluded from the above, is shown separately as the duty increases have had significant impact on prices. The movement across the three year period of 35.8% was driven primarily by VAT and Duty increases (approximately 60% of the overall increase).
	The prices charged to prisoners are reviewed every 13 weeks.
	The National Product List (NPL) prices set by NOMS are based on two criteria:
	Price Marked (PM) items are sold to prisoners at the price marked on the packaging.
	Manufacturers Recommended Retail Prices (MRRP) items are priced in accordance with available Manufacturers Recommended Retail Prices.
	The average price differential between items sold in the prison shop, the National Product List (NPL) and the high street can vary on a daily basis. Given the number of individual items on the NPL (approximately 800 lines) it is not therefore possible to determine a representative average price differential.
	At the beginning of each new NPL. a comparison of a small selection of essential items known as the ‘Shopping Basket’ is undertaken to establish how NOMS cost compares to convenience stores. An average differential of prices compared to the high street for all lines is therefore not available. The average differential for the most recent basket comparison is 5.16%.

Suicide

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the oral contribution by the Minister of State for Policing of 13 March 2012, Official Report, column 53WH, on investigation of suicides, which Government-led, cross-sector forums have discussed sudden deaths.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has formed a Coroners Working Group comprising police, CPS and coroner representatives. The group has been established to focus on improving communications between the three parties in the event of a suspicious sudden death.
	In February 2012 Ministry of Justice officials convened a meeting with representatives from the Home Office, National Policing Improvement Agency, the CPS and the Coroners' Society of England and Wales to discuss the investigation of non-suspicious sudden deaths.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the use of stray dogs and cats in animal experiments through the transposition of the EU Directive on animal experimentation.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK does not allow the use of stray dogs and cats in animal experiments. The EU Directive also states that stray animals should not be used. We do not envisage any circumstances under which the use of stray animals will be justified in the future.
	European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes is to be implemented in the United Kingdom and other member states from 1 January 2013.
	Article 10 requires that dogs and cats may only be used in procedures if they have been purpose bred. Any exception to this requirement must be justified on scientific grounds. Article 11 prohibits the use of stray and feral animals of domestic species except in essential studies relating to the health and welfare of the animals, or serious threats to the environment or to human or animal health. Where such an exception is to be granted, there must be a scientific justification that the purpose of the procedure can be achieved only by the use of a stray or feral animal.
	We propose to implement the requirements of Articles 10 and 11 by means of the standard conditions to be applied to project licences.
	Currently, section 10(3) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 provides similar prohibitions through its requirement for the conditions of a project licence to include a condition to the effect that dogs and cats must be purpose bred and prohibiting the use of wild animals. Section 10(3) also provides for exceptions to these prohibitions, where justified.
	As current UK requirements are not stricter than those of the new directive in this regard, it is not possible to place an absolute prohibition of the use of stray dogs and cats on the face of revised UK legislation using Article 2 to the directive. Nevertheless, under the 1986 Act, exceptions relating to the use of feral animals have been extremely rare and no use of stray animals has been authorised. We do not envisage any circumstances under which the use of stray animals will be justified in the future and I therefore propose, as a matter of policy, to continue this effective prohibition on the use of stray animals under revised UK legislation transposing the new directive.

Animal Experiments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain for 2011.

Lynne Featherstone: We plan to publish the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain for 2011 on 10 July 2012 at 10 am.

Castes

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent consideration she has given to using the powers in section 9(5)(a) of the Equality Act 2010 to make caste an aspect of race for purposes of the Act.

Lynne Featherstone: Our consideration of this matter is still ongoing. This is a sensitive issue; any consideration of how best to proceed must balance the perceived need for legislative intervention against this Government's emphasis on challenging red tape and avoidance of additional regulation which may put an unnecessary burden on employers and other businesses.

Castes

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on making caste an aspect of race under the Equality Act 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: We have received, and continue to receive, representations and correspondence on this matter from both individuals and organisations.
	Among those organisations are:
	Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance
	Association for Community Cohesion
	British Sikh Consultative Forum
	Castewatch UK
	Hindu Council UK
	Hindu Forum of Britain
	The National Council of Hindu Temples UK
	National Hindu Students Forum
	Odysseus Trust
	Voice of Dalit International
	Representations have included a number received as part of the Government's Red Tape Challenge spotlight on equalities exercise that was conducted in 2011.

Criminal Records: EU Action

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for information from the UK's criminal records from other EU Member States have been made for purposes other than criminal proceedings under Article 6(1) of EU Council Framework Decision 2009/315/JHA in each year since 2009.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 19 June 2012
	Council Framework Decision 2009/315/JHA was implemented on 27 April 2012. It replaced Council Decision 2005/876/JHA which had been brought into force in June 2006.
	Since 27 April there have been 66 incoming requests for purposes other than criminal proceedings. Of these two referred to Government employment, seven were for firearms licenses and 57 were requests from individuals for their own criminal record. Many of these related to individuals who have lived in the UK and have since returned to their home country.

Deportation

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2012, Official Report, column 63W, on deportation, how many immigrants the UK Border Agency deported in each of the last five years; to which countries; and using what form and class of travel.

Damian Green: Deportations are a specific subset of removals which are enforced either following a criminal conviction or when it is judged that a person's removal from the UK is conducive to the public good. The deportation order prohibits the person returning to the UK until such time as it may be revoked. Most illegal immigrants are removed under administrative or illegal entry powers from the UK rather than being deported.
	It has therefore been assumed that the question refers to the number of enforced removals and voluntary departures from the UK as opposed to the number of deportations.
	The table placed in the House Library, shows the total number of removals and voluntary departures by country of destination in each year from 2007 to 2011.
	The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK within Immigration Statistics. The data on removals and voluntary departures by country of destination is available in the latest release, Immigration Statistics: January-March 2012, tables rv.06 and rv.06.q, from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science, research and statistics web pages at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
	The UK Border Agency seeks to achieve the best value for money when returning nationals with no right to remain in the UK. Ticket costs and a number of other factors are taken into account when deciding on the method and route of return. It is not possible to provide an accurate breakdown of the form and class of travel without examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

DNA: Databases

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals are on the DNA database but have not been charged with an offence.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is not currently available. The National DNA Database (NDNAD) is designed to match DNA taken from crime scenes with that taken from individuals. It does not hold information on whether those on it have been charged, as this is not necessary for that purpose. As part of the implementation of the Protection of Freedoms Act, work is under way to enable the removal from the NDNAD of the records relating to those without convictions, whether or not charged, in accordance with the provisions of the Act. New software on the Police National Computer will use the information recorded on that system to identify those whose records must be deleted from the NDNAD under the provisions of the Act, and to drive this deletion automatically through a link between the two systems.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will arrange for the hon. Member for Walsall North to receive a reply from the UK Border Agency to his letter of 17 May 2012 about a constituent, ref M7571/12.

Damian Green: The chief executive of the UK Border Agency wrote to the hon. Gentleman on 19 June 2012.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Civil Partnerships: Ceremonies

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities whether the Government Equalities Office has conducted an analysis of the potential effects of plans for same-sex civil marriage on the conduct of marriage ceremonies by religious institutions; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government's consultation on how to enable same-sex couples to have a civil marriage ceremony closed on 14 June.
	Prior to, and during the consultation, the Government assessed the potential effects on religious institutions of our proposals. Both myself and my officials have also met with a number of faith groups to hear their views.
	No religious organisation will be forced to host ceremonies for same-sex couples as a result of these proposals.

Conditions of Employment

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities 
	(1)  whether she has made an assessment of the working conditions for women in the professional modelling industry;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the extent of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the creative industries.

Lynne Featherstone: The Department has made no assessment of (a) the working conditions for women in the professional modelling industry or (b) the extent of discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation in the creative industries.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many regulations her Department has repealed between 1 February and 31 May 2012; and if she will estimate the potential savings to those affected in each case.

Lynne Featherstone: As of 1 April 2011, the Government Equalities Office has been part of the Home Office and is no longer a separate Government Department. The information requested will be provided by the Minister for Immigration in response to the hon. Member’s question to the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Theft

Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many thefts from the Commons part of the parliamentary estate have been reported since 22 March 2012; and what items were reported stolen in each case.

John Thurso: The following table shows the items reported as stolen from the House of Commons since 22 March 2012:
	
		
			 Items reported stolen Number Note 
			 iPad 2 One subsequently found 
			 Coat and scarf 1 Wrong coat and scarf inadvertently taken by a visitor to the Public Gallery and not returned 
			 Wallet and contents 1 Property found 
			 Mobile telephone 2 — 
			 Laptop 7 — 
			 £723 cash 1 — 
			 Pre-paid envelopes 1 Arrest made and property recovered 
			 Computer equipment 1 —

CABINET OFFICE

Investment and Contract Readiness Fund

Ann McKechin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 59W, on third sector, for what reason it is his policy that only companies based and operating solely within England will be entitled to apply to the Investment and Contract Readiness Fund.

Nick Hurd: The Investment and Contract Readiness Fund covers England only. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 June 2012, Official Report, column 924W.

Public Sector: Pay

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether Government Departments will be required to publish information on those public sector workers earning more than £150,000 off payroll in their 2012 update.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 June 2012, Official Report, column 1073W.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Families: Disadvantaged

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what evidential basis he has calculated that there are 120,000 families which should be eligible for the troubled families programme.

Bob Neill: In December 2011, all upper-tier local authorities were provided with figures on the indicative numbers of troubled families in their area. All local authorities accepted these figures for their own area, which, in aggregate, confirmed a 120,000 figure.
	The “Troubled Families Financial Framework”, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House, outlines the process for councils to draw up the list of families who will be part of the programme.

Local Government Finance

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the level of year-end balances of local authorities was (a) in each authority and (b) in total in 2011-12.

Bob Neill: holding answer 18 June 2012
	The estimated level of year-end balances across England was:
	
		
			  2011-12(1 )(£ billion) 
			 As at 31 March  
			 Estimated schools reserves level 1.7 
			 Estimated other earmarked financial reserves level 7.7 
			 Estimated unallocated financial reserves level 3.1 
			 (1) Budget. 
		
	
	A table has been placed in the Library of the House, showing the figures for 2011-12 end of year balances at individual local authority level.
	I would note that these figures are from Revenue Account Budget returns for 2011-12 and are not necessarily directly comparative with Revenue Outturn returns. Typically, authorities record lower figures for end of year reserves in their budget returns (completed at the beginning of each financial year) than their outturn returns (completed at the end of each financial year).
	As outlined in my Department's press notice of 30 November 2010, it is the view of Ministers that it is sensible, as part of wider financial planning, for councils to consider drawing on their reserves to address short-term costs and pressures, such as necessary restructuring, and to invest now in order to realise savings in the longer term. Low interest rates have significantly reduced the revenues from council reserves. Councils can then build up their reserves again in the sunnier days to come.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animals: Imports

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will commission research into the potential health effects for the UK human population of the import of exotic pets.

James Paice: There are already rules in place to protect public health from known risks associated with the import of animals. Specifically, there are recognised infectious risks associated with reptiles. We have been working with the Health Protection Agency to alert the public to these risks, while emphasising the importance of safe handling in reptiles and also controlling the importation of potential sources of infection of reptiles. At the present time, with diminishing budgets and other priorities there is no research under way or planned in this area.
	Should a new or unknown risk emerge, the Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group's key responsibility is to identify and discuss emerging diseases that may post a threat to UK public health. The group is chaired by the Health Protection Agency and includes representatives from DEFRA, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the Department for Health, the Food Standards Agency and the devolved Administrations. The HAIRS group may be able to commission new public health research, if considered appropriate, through its membership.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish all correspondence between her Department and outside organisations on the badger cull.

James Paice: The Department does not routinely publish correspondence that it receives and sends as part of the normal course of business; this is no exception.

E. coli

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the role of antimicrobial usage as a factor influencing the prevalence of E. coli, carrying extended-spectrum beta-lactamases on dairy farms.

James Paice: A pilot research project on antimicrobial usage and antimicrobial resistance from dairy farms with and without extended spectrum beta-lactamase E. coli is due to be completed later on this year.

Eggs: Sales

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the effect of falling sales of free-range eggs on poultry farmers.

James Paice: DEFRA does not collect statistics on the sales of free-range eggs. However, statistics are collected on the production of free-range eggs and these figures show the production of free-range eggs has been relatively stable over the last few years:
	
		
			 UK egg packing station throughput 
			 Thousand cases 
			  Total Intensive Barn Free Range Organic 
			 2009      
			 Q1 6,119 3,519 220 2,121 259 
			 Q2 6,126 3,312 250 2,304 260 
			 Q3 6,111 3,249 287 2,331 244 
			 Q4 6,261 3,364 279 2,381 237 
			       
			 2010      
			 Q1 6,498 3,386 308 2,555 249 
			 Q2 6,686 3,348 324 2,779 235 
			 Q3 6,920 3,406 355 2,932 226 
			 Q4 6,963 3,382 347 3,017 218 
			       
			 2011      
			 Q1 6,854 3,343 291 3,007 212 
			 Q2 6,880 3,305 277 3,055 243 
			 Q3 6,632 3,300 248 2,875 209 
		
	
	
		
			 Q4 6,555 3,180 259 2,943 174 
			       
			 2012      
			 Q1 6,506 3,107 230 3,001 168

Fisheries: North Sea

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Norway on fishing quotas in the North sea.

Richard Benyon: I have not had direct discussions with the Government of Norway on North sea fishing quotas recently, but DEFRA officials have numerous contacts with Norway and attend meetings with Norway as part of a European delegation. Most recently, officials took part in an EU/Norway meeting in Kirkwell to discuss long-term management plans for cod, saithe and herring. The outcome was a request to the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas to evaluate the current plans and to recommend possible improvements.

Food: Exports

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to her Department's document, Driving Export Growth in the Farming, Food and Drink Sector, how much UK food exports have increased since January 2012.

James Paice: Export figures for food, feed and drink for the first quarter of 2012 are £4.324 billion. This compares with £4.217 billion for the equivalent period in 2011. The figures for the second quarter of 2012 are not yet available.

Food: Procurement

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess which central Government Departments are compliant with her Department's Government Buying Standards for food and catering services for contracts signed (a) before and (b) after 1 September 2011.

James Paice: The Government Buying Standard (GBS) for food and catering services was published in June 2011 and became mandatory for new contracts in September 2011. Implementation of the Government Buying Standards is the responsibility of each individual Government Department. Departments are seeking opportunities to introduce the food and catering service standards into existing contracts and, as contracts come up for renewal, these should include the Government Buying Standards. Departments are also responsible for appropriate reporting on their adherence to the standards.
	Government Departments are now expected to report on their use of Government Buying Standards under the Greening Government Commitments entered into in February 2011. For the first year, 2011-12, we will be looking for reports on a handful of product groups, which will not include the food GBS as it is considered premature to report on this considering its recent introduction, to keep the reporting burden to a reasonable level. However, the number of product groups covered will increase year by year over the duration of these commitments. It is anticipated that reporting on compliance with the food GBS will be included next year.

Gangmasters Licensing Authority

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will publish the impact assessment of her decision to make changes to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority;
	(2)  what steps the Gangmasters Licensing Authority will take to work with specialist law enforcement agencies using an intelligence-led approach to better target and pursue suspected serious and organised crime;
	(3)  what steps she plans to take to reduce the administrative burden of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority licensing regime;
	(4)  what representations she has received on her decision to no longer allow the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to regulate apprenticeships, forestry, specialist cleaning contract companies, land agents and voluntary workers;
	(5)  when she plans to publish comprehensive proposals for reform of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority.

James Paice: Proposals announced on 24 May, which will improve the way the Gangmasters Licensing Authority operates, are the result of the Government's Red Tape Challenge (RTC) review of the authority. This included gaining approval from the Reducing Regulation Committee. An impact assessment was not required under this process. Detailed proposals will be published for public consultation later this year, and will include impact assessments.
	The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) already works closely with a range of enforcement bodies. Our proposed approach looks to build on that sound base by improving intelligence gathering and data sharing and establishing better co-operation between the various enforcement agencies. These include the UK Human Trafficking Agency, the UK Borders Agency and the Serious Organised Crime Agency and, from 2013, the National Crime Agency. This approach will help ensure the GLA targets suspected serious and organised crime.
	In tandem with this we will look to reduce burdens imposed on compliant operators under the GLA's licensing scheme. This includes removing the automatic requirement for an application inspection, and associated fee of £1,850, and introducing a system of earned recognition for those applying for a licence. Combined with proposals to remove from scope of the GLA low risk sectors where there is no evidence of worker abuse. The GLA estimates that this will result in around 150 fewer licensed operators and annual savings to business of circa £360,000.
	Confor, the main trade body representing businesses in the forestry sector, has written to DEFRA Ministers supporting the proposal to exclude forestry from scope of the GLA. There have not been any other formal representations received on the removal of low risk sectors since the announcement on 24 May.

Livestock: Antibiotics

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of trends in the levels of antibiotic resistant strains of salmonella, campylobacter, E. coli and Enterococci in (a) poultry, (b) pigs and (c) cattle since 2000;
	(2)  what recent evidence she has received on trends in the level of anti-microbial resistance in E. coli;
	(3)  what recent assessment she has made of the dissemination of plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance in food producing animals.

James Paice: The antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter, E. coli, Salmonella and Enterococci from intestinal contents of pigs and cattle after slaughter were monitored in abattoir surveys in 2003 and the results were announced at a public meeting held at that time. This followed a similar survey performed in 1999-2000.
	During 2006-07 turkeys on farms were monitored for E. coli. Later, during 2008-09, broiler chickens were monitored for Campylobacter and E. coli. The results have been published either in scientific journals or by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
	The Government contributes antimicrobial susceptibility data annually to EFSA for inclusion in the EU Summary Report on Antimicrobial Resistance. This report is published annually on the EFSA website and shows trends in susceptibility for several antimicrobials.
	The antimicrobial susceptibility of organisms from clinical diagnostic material submitted to Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) Regional Laboratories provides further ongoing monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility in bacteria of veterinary origin.
	Plasmid borne antimicrobial resistance is common in bacteria in food-producing animals and has been for many years. The situation is similar in most countries.

Livestock: Antibiotics

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the (a) number of farms and (b) proportion of (i) poultry, (ii) pigs and (iii) cattle testing positive for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase resistant E. coli and salmonella; and when this information was last obtained.

James Paice: Determination of the proportions of farms positive for extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli has been done for turkeys, where a survey was performed in 2006-07. ESBL E. coli were isolated from 5.2% of turkey meat production farms and 6.9% of turkey breeder farms. The results have been published in the scientific journal, the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. Similar studies have not been performed in pigs or cattle.

Livestock: Antibiotics

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what research (a) her Department and (b) the BBSRC has funded into the relationship between the level of farm antibiotic use and the level of antibiotic resistance in (i) poultry, (ii) pigs and (iii) cattle since 2000; and what the findings were of this research;
	(2)  what research (a) her Department and (b) the BBSRC has funded into the use of antibiotics on organic and non-organic farms since 2000; and what the findings were of this research.

James Paice: A pilot research project on antimicrobial usage and antimicrobial resistance from dairy farms with and without extended spectrum beta-lactamase E. coli is due to be completed later on this year.
	Research on an organic broiler farm published in 2007 reported that in the four years prior to the study, antibiotics had been administered on one occasion. This study is publishes at:
	http://aem.asm.Org/content/73/1/203.long
	Between 2005 and 2010, the BBRSC committed an average of £1,854,000 annually to research on antimicrobial resistance. Details of this research can be found in scientific journals.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to prevent the import into the UK of eggs laid by illegally caged hens; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: Risk based surveillance to ensure imported shell eggs from other member states have been produced in compliance with the conventional cage ban is continuing. Inspectors are conducting checks on batches of eggs on a weekly basis at all primary importers using ultraviolet light analysis and by checking against member states' compliant producer lists. The UK's full enforcement strategy is set out in the written ministerial statement of 6 December 2011, Official Report, columns 15-19WS.

Sheep: Tagging

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress her Department has made on changes to sheep electronic identification regulations.

James Paice: In December 2011, DEFRA secured a change to the EU regulations on sheep electronic identification (EID) to delay, for three years, the requirement to include individual ear tag numbers on movement documents for older animals which are not required to be electronically identified. This change will save keepers between £5 million and £14.5 million.
	Further changes to the EU legislation are not anticipated in the near future.

Zoos

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the requirements of the EC zoos directive are being met in zoos in England; how many zoo closure directions under section 16 of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 have been issued since 2005; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The EC zoos directive is implemented through the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 which places responsibility for the administration of the zoo licensing and inspection regime with local authorities. In response to concerns about how local authorities were carrying out this role, DEFRA commissioned research which found, among other things, evidence of an improving situation with respect to implementation of the Act.
	The research also noted the need for further improvement and DEFRA is currently updating its guidance for local authorities to assist them in carrying out their functions.
	The issue of zoo closure directions is a matter for individual local authorities. Records are not held centrally.

Zoos

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many zoo inspectors are currently employed; how many zoo inspections took (a) less than one day, (b) one day, (c) two days and (d) three or more days in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) maintain a list of zoo inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State. There are currently 34 inspectors on the list. Inspectors are not employed by AHVLA or DEFRA but carry out or assist with certain inspections for the relevant local authority.
	Information on the duration of inspections is not held centrally. However, these details may be available from individual local authorities.

TRANSPORT

Birmingham Cross-City Railway Line

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood of 14 June 2012, Official Report, column 533W, on railway stations, what discussions she (a) has had and (b) plans to have with (i) Network Rail, (ii) London Midland and (iii) Centro on passenger safety, comfort and service on the Birmingham Cross City Line.

Theresa Villiers: Ministers meet with Network Rail, passenger transport executives and train operating companies on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues.
	However, no meetings have been held, or are planned to be held, to discuss specifically the Birmingham Cross City Line.

Cars: Insurance

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had on the use of spy technology in the car to track drivers and reduce insurance costs.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State has not had any discussions on the use of spy technology in cars.
	On 2 May the Secretary of State for Transport hosted a cross-Government summit with the insurance industry on measures to reduce the cost of premiums.
	One measure, especially for young drivers, which the insurance industry is introducing, is the use of telematics or “smartbox” technology which monitors driving behaviour, giving drivers the opportunity to reduce car insurance premiums by driving safely and responsibly. Such technology is used with the full knowledge and consent of the person insuring the vehicle.

Consultants

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was to her Department of the use of external consultants in each of the last two years.

Norman Baker: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Harrow West (Gareth Thomas) on Monday 11 June, Official Report, column 36W.

Merseyrail

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure that sufficient electric rolling stock is available to operate newly electrified routes in the Merseyside area from 2014 onwards.

Theresa Villiers: The choice of rolling stock is generally a matter for the relevant train operator, with Government involvement primarily focused on where the taxpayer's interest needs to be protected.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average cost of car insurance was in each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: The average cost of car motor insurance premiums for each of the last five years can be considered in two different ways. Data from the AA's “shoparound” survey show the average development in quotes for annual comprehensive car insurance policies. Data from the ABI show the average premium actually paid, based on a sample of insurance companies.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Source 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 Automobile Association (AA) (October 2011) 463 503 569 792 921 
			 Association of British Insurers (ABI) (annual data) 352 348 340 390 (1)— 
			 (1 )Not yet available. Note: The AA figures do not fully take into account the price of the policy finally agreed; and renewals of existing policies may be cheaper than quotes for new policies.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on the average increase in annual car insurance premiums in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 to date.

Michael Penning: holding answer 11 June 2012
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Andrew Stephenson) UIN 109676.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many regulations her Department has repealed between 1 February and 31 May 2012; and if she will estimate the potential savings to those affected in each case.

Norman Baker: Ten statutory instruments were revoked between 1 February and 31 May 2012. These are listed in the table below.
	Where an Impact Assessment has been prepared for the instrument that contained the revocation, the best estimate of the total benefit to those affected and the best estimate of the total net present value are given. These sums relate to the values associated with the introduction of the instrument containing the revocations. It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to provide savings attributable solely to the revocations, in particular because of the further analysis that would be required.
	Where no benefit figure is given, this is because no Impact Assessment was produced for the instrument containing the revocation. Where given in the Explanatory Note to the instrument, the reason for not producing an Impact Assessment is provided in the table below. In the case of the Dunham Bridge order, it has not been the practice of the Department to produce Impact Assessments for orders of this type that change toll levels.
	
		
			 Statutory Instrument containing the revocation SI Number Made on Statutory Instrument(s) revoked Date of coming into force of revocation Best estimate of total benefit (present value) based on Impact Assessment £ million Best estimate total net present value based on Impact Assessment £ million Reason given for no Impact Assessment where applicable 
			 The Street Works (Charges for Occupation of the Highway) (England) Regulations 2012 2012/425 20 February 2012 The Street Works (Charges for Occupation of the Highway) (England) Regulations 2001 SI 2001/4060 14 March 2012 £532.7 over a period of six years £441.5 over a period of six years  
			 The Humber Bridge (Debts) Order 2012 2012/716 5 March 2012 The Humber Bridge (Debts) Order 2011 SI 2011/1718 1 April 2012   There was no anticipated impact on the private or voluntary sectors. 
			 The Policing of Aerodromes (Belfast International Airport) Order 2012 2012/837 13 March 2012 The Policing of Aerodromes (Belfast International Airport) Order 2011 SI 2010/575 16 April 2012   No additional impact on the costs to business, the public sector, civil society organisations, regulators or consumers to that set out in the final impact assessment on Airport Policing, Funding and Security Planning was foreseen. 
			 The Dunham Bridge (Revision of Tolls) Order 2012 2012/852 15 March 2012 The Dunham Bridge (Revision of Tolls) Order 2007 SI 2007/1455 30 March 2012    
			 The Bus Lane Contraventions (Approved Local Authorities) (England) (Amendment) and Civil Enforcement of Parking Contravention s Designation Order 2012 2012/846 21 March 2012 The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (City of Derby) Order 2006 SI 2006/1445 16 April 2012   No impact on the private or voluntary sectors was foreseen. 
			    The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Metropolitan Borough of Solihull) Order 2007 SI 2007/2535     
			 The Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) Regulations 2012 2012/1017 2 April 2012 The Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) Regulations 1995 SI 1995/1054 30 April 2012 £149.7 over a period of ten years £6.2 over a period of ten years  
		
	
	
		
			    The Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 SI 1996/1390     
			    The Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) (Second Amendment) Regulations 1997 SI 1997/2912     
			    The Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 SI 2003/1741     
			    (also revoked by SI 2012/1017 was regulation 19 of the Civil Aviation (Contributions to the Air Travel Trust) Regulations 2007)     
		
	
	Temporary local highways and flying orders were not considered for the purposes of answering this question. This is because they could only have been considered at disproportionate cost. From 1 January 2012 to 31 May 2012 the Department made 835 Statutory Instruments of which 791 were temporary local highways or flying orders.

Rescue Services: Scotland

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure that the remaining coastguard stations in Scotland are able to cope effectively with emergency situations.

Michael Penning: The new rescue coordination arrangements will deliver a more resilient, nationally-networked service with a national Maritime Operations Centre at its heart, allowing better management of peaks and troughs of demand.
	Robust testing will be carried out prior to the closure of both Forth and Clyde Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres to ensure that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is able to maintain at least the same quality of search and rescue service as at present.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what correspondence (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have had with the Scottish Government on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK; and if she will place any such correspondence in the Library;
	(2)  what discussions (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have had with Scottish Government Ministers or officials on the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK.

Norman Baker: There has been no correspondence or discussions on the consequences of Scotland leaving the United Kingdom between Ministers and officials in the Department and Scottish Government Ministers or officials.
	The Coalition Government's position is clear. Scotland is stronger as part of the UK and the UK is stronger with Scotland in it. The Government is not making plans for independence as we are confident that people in Scotland will continue to support the United Kingdom in any referendum.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries: Human Rights

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he decided that all his Department's country programmes would include a short human rights assessment as part of the annual review of country operational plans; and for what reason such assessments have been introduced.

Alan Duncan: The decision for all DFID's priority country programmes to include a human rights assessment was taken in December 2011, as part of DFID's ongoing efforts to strengthen our approach to human rights. Introduction of short human rights assessments supports the Department's policy on budget support and conditionality, revised in June 2011. This policy includes respect for human rights as one of the four partnership principles that DFID applies in deciding whether or not to provide budget support.

Developing Countries: Human Rights

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who he intends to consult in preparing human rights assessments in conjunction with annual reviews of his Department's country operations plans; if he will consult national and international human rights organisations in the preparation of such assessments; and what discussions he plans to have with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the participation of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the preparation of such assessments.

Alan Duncan: DFID country offices are encouraged to draw on a range of sources in preparing human rights assessments as part of their annual review of country operational plans. This includes drawing on existing analysis and data, from national Governments as well as local and international human rights organisations.
	DFID human rights assessments are being prepared in close collaboration with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), in particular in the countries that are of particular concern to the UK Government.

Developing Countries: Human Rights

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy to set down benchmarks on human rights in his Department's country operational plans.

Alan Duncan: From September 2012, country operational plans will include a human rights assessment which will highlight the key human rights issues in each country, a judgment on the overall trajectory of the human rights environment, and the implications for DFID programmes. The assessments will not explicitly set down benchmarks.
	DFID does however consider respect for human rights as one of the four partnership principles that are applied when assessing budget support to a government.

Developing Countries: Human Rights

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when human rights assessments prepared in conjunction with annual reviews of his Department's country operational plans will be published; and whether such assessments will be discussed with the Government of each country.

Alan Duncan: All DFID country offices have been required to draw up human rights assessments as part of their annual review of country, operational plans. These assessments will be published by September 2012.
	We expect some DFID country offices to consult and share their assessments with the Governments, and other key actors, prior to publication, although it is for country offices to use their discretion on how they handle the process.

Developing Countries: Polio

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) programmes his Department supports and (b) recent discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on the global eradication of polio.

Alan Duncan: DFID provides support for polio eradication through the UK's annual contribution to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) which the World Health Organisation hosts in Geneva. The GPEI prioritises the allocation of the funding according to need. I have held no discussions recently with ministerial colleagues on the issue of polio eradication.

Pakistan

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to ensure that aid to the Government of Pakistan is used to support development projects and cannot be used to support terrorist activities.

Andrew Mitchell: All UK aid to the Government of Pakistan is earmarked to deliver specific outcomes to help the poorest and most vulnerable people and is subject to numerous safeguards. The Department for International Development (DFID) has put in place rigorous monitoring, verification and fiduciary risk assessments, including through independent verification. These systems help to ensure that UK aid reaches its intended recipients, secures value for money and delivers tangible results.

Sri Lanka

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is providing to the Government of Sri Lanka to extend clean water and sanitation to the whole of the population of that country.

Alan Duncan: DFID has no bilateral programme in Sri Lanka.

TREASURY

Capital Allowances

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the use of enhanced capital allowances to support investment in petroleum refineries.

Chloe Smith: All businesses, including petroleum refineries, are entitled to claim capital allowances on their plant and machinery expenditure at rates of writing-down allowances which broadly align with commercial depreciation.

Monetary Policy

Steven Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 23 November 2010, Official Report, column 275W, on monetary policy, what assessment he has made of the lag between an intervention in the market for loanable funds and its effect on the economy.

Chloe Smith: The independent Bank of England’s research, notably ‘The transmission mechanism of monetary policy’, 1999, finds that on average it takes about one year for the response to a change in the official interest rate to have its peak effect on demand and production, and that it takes up to a further year for these activity changes to have their fullest impact on the inflation rate.
	Members of the independent Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank have noted the lags for the transmission of quantitative easing (QE) policy to be of the same order of magnitude, or possibly longer, compared to normal interest rate cuts.
	The Bank of England estimates in its September 2011 Quarterly Bulletin that the first round of QE, conducted between March 2009 and January 2012, raised UK inflation by around 0.75% to 1.50% and increased real GDP by around 1.50% to 2.0%